The 2025 real estate market in New York City was certainly one for the books. Shaped by pivotal legislation like the FARE Act and City of Yes, plus a surge in new developments and office-to-residential conversions, it’s fair to say NYC’s housing market looks quite different than it did last year. Yet, through it all, StreetEasy® has remained focused on reporting the market insights and data New Yorkers need to make sense of the most complex real estate market in the country.

As the only major real estate platform focused solely on the five boroughs, we helped tens of thousands of New Yorkers find their way home this year through our detailed listings, educational content and guidance, and connections to skilled Experts to assist in navigating the process. As we head toward 20 years of StreetEasy in NYC in 2026, let’s reflect on the search trends that defined the real estate market in 2025.

Activity

Amenities

Last year, we predicted that more New Yorkers would look for reasons to stay at home, with apartment amenities driving search demand — and the data shows we were correct. While in-unit laundry (aka the NYC holy grail) remained the most desired amenity among all New Yorkers, pets allowed fell from its top spot for renters and buyers alike. Instead, StreetEasy searchers looked for other conveniences, like elevators and doormen, that help make their daily lives easier.

With renters staying renters for longer and new developments becoming the more “affordable” rental option, expect searches for these amenities and others — like rooftop decks, party rooms, and coworking spaces — to surge next year.

Most-searched amenities
Sales	Rentals
In-unit laundry	In-unit laundry
Elevator	Dishwasher
Doorman	Laundry in building
Dishwasher	Elevator
Private outdoor space	Doorman

Affordability remained top of mind for the city’s renters, causing searches for rentals that allow guarantors to surge more than 200%. Perhaps a result of renters finding roommates to share costs, or seeking a space they can stay in longer term, searches for rentals with additional storage space spiked this year as well. Most surprisingly, though, searches for rentals with fireplaces nearly doubled from last year — reminding us all that beyond affordability, aesthetics still matter.

Up-and-coming amenities These amenities had the largest year-over-year increases in search volume from 2024 to 2025.
Sales	Rentals
Parking (+85%)	Guarantor allowed (+205%)
Laundry in building (+62%)	Storage (+202%)
Dishwasher (+53%)	Parking (+81%)
Central air conditioning (+52%)	Fireplace (+73%)
Fitness center (+51%)	Views: garden, park, waterfront, or city (+68%)

Neighborhoods

As the adage goes, New York City real estate is all about location, location, location. While many of these neighborhoods make our list year after year, their ranks often change. This year, one thing is clear: the West Village is (still) having a moment. Off the heels of the sale of a multifamily building from a certain sitcom, we can understand why the allure of this iconic enclave simply never dies down.

Get to know the nabes! StreetEasy’s Know the Neighborhood video series features episodes on some of 2025’s noteworthy nabes — among many others. Find out what it’s like to live there from residents and local real estate agents, from points of interest to buying or renting tips.

While median asking prices stagnated — or even fell — in parts of Manhattan this year, Brooklyn’s price growth remained strong. Brooklyn neighborhoods now make up more than half of the most expensive sales markets in the city, overtaking Manhattan. 

In the rental market, Manhattan remains the most expensive borough. However, rents in some of these expensive neighborhoods have fallen from last year, suggesting renters with high budgets may be able to score a deal.

^{SoHo took the top spot for most expensive neighborhood for sales, while Tribeca was most expensive for rentals.}

New developments gave buyers and renters new options this year, and we predict they will continue to do so in 2026. Rental inventory surged in the outer boroughs, specifically in new development hubs like Gowanus, Mott Haven, Downtown Brooklyn, and Long Island City. Meanwhile, buyers have been able to find more options mostly in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

Curious about the lookahead, too? Check out our 2026 predictions for a preview of what the market might look like next year. Whether you’re planning to buy, sell, rent, or stay put in the new year, StreetEasy is here to be your trusty companion on all things NYC housing.

To allow for publishing by year end, all data cited in this article is based on the time frame of January–October 2025.

StreetEasy is an assumed name of Zillow, Inc. which has a real estate brokerage license in all 50 states and D.C. See real estate licenses. StreetEasy does not intend to interfere with any agency agreement you may have with a real estate professional or solicit your business if you are already under contract to purchase or sell property. All data for uncited sources in this presentation has been sourced from Zillow data. Copyright © 2025 by Zillow, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.